Articles about developments of alternatives for the future of The United Methodist Church: discussions of options, other expressions of the Methodist or Wesleyan Way, new alignments, petitions and resolutions approved in annual conferences, etc.
Retired bishop Forrest C. Stith has written his interpretation of what happened at the General Conference of 2019: 8 myths and the contrasting realities. Here are the myths:
- MYTH #1: The entire denomination prefers the traditional model over all other possibilities.
- MYTH #2: The church in the U.S. is equally divided on the question of full inclusion of LGBTQ persons in the life of the church.
- MYTH #3: Schism is inevitable for The United Methodist Church.
- MYTH #4: Most African Americans reject the inclusion of same-sex orientation persons.
- MYTH #5: The reason for membership decline in North America is due to UMC public stances on sexual preferences and other social issues.
- MYTH #6: Since the assumption is that a majority of the Churches in Africa voted in favor of the Traditional Plan, and assured its passage, it must have been in their best interest.
- MYTH #7: The Traditional plan represents the tradition and history of Methodism.
- MYTH #8: The Holy Spirit is no longer appropriate for our time, and the only hope for The United Methodist Church lies in its legislative parliamentary maneuvers, annual conference debates, strategizing, caucuses, the Judicial Council, and individuals who rail against each other.
A large meeting of centrist and progressive United Methodists from the U.S. is set for May 20-22 at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. The question to be asked is a big one: What should become of The United Methodist Church?
“We hope that this will be a diverse group of leaders who will help shape Methodism’s future and whatever comes out of those conversations will be our next steps and strategies moving forward,” said the Rev. Jasmine Smothers, lead pastor of Atlanta First United Methodist Church. Specific options to be considered include breaking up the denomination or creating a financially smooth exit plan for traditionalist-minded congregations, said the Rev. Adam Hamilton, another organizer, in a blog post. Read the complete story at UMNS.
by Mark Holland, Executive Director of Mainstream UMC
The most important thing right now is to be empowered about the future of the Methodist Church. We lost the votes for 4 days in St. Louis. We win the remaining 361 days of the year as we vote with our actions and our dollars. The 2/3rds of the U.S. church that is in support of full inclusivity cannot be controlled by votes from outside our mission field. Paragraph 101 of the Book of Discipline gives the global church broad autonomy over their mission fields. This is not currently reciprocated to the U.S. church. Yet, we have all the members and resources we need to form a church in the Wesleyan tradition that is filled with grace and not mean-spirited rules. The Traditional Plan lives in the past. Together, we need to form a new future. Here are three things we can all do.... (Read on)
The Western Jurisdiction is another part of the church considering futures. See this page for more. And so is this group.
Rev. Kathryn Johnson, pastor of Parkway United Methodist Church, Milton, Massachusetts, and former Executive Director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action, has written an open letter to Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City area, the largest UM church in the world, calling for him to "bring your understanding of justice, your pastor’s heart, and your keen intellect and join with others of us who have been in this struggle for decades. Listen especially to those most injured and marginalized by our denomination, in this instance LGBTQ+ people."
She writes,
"We stand on new ground post-GC 2019. Clearly everyone now recognizes that there will be a separation of some sort. Traditionalists have made it clear that they will not continue in one denomination with those of us who do not hold their views. This split has been long in the making and is perhaps overdue.
"The question now before us is what will happen with those of us who are moderate and progressive.... I pray that you will bring your understanding of justice, your pastor’s heart, and your keen intellect and join with others of us who have been in this struggle for decades. Listen especially to those most injured and marginalized by our denomination, in this instance LGBTQ+ people.
"Now is not the time for equivocation. Wherever you choose to add the weight of your substantial influence, I pray it will be in support of full inclusion and affirmation of the rights of LGBTQ+ people." Read the entire letter.
Here's what Adam Hamilton himself has written.